Liquid shaving composition and method of shaving

ABSTRACT

LIQUID SHAVING COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING LIQUID, NONIONIC SURFACTANT AND HAVING AN HLB FROM 1 TO 9 AND A VISCOSITY FROM 0.1 TO 50 STOKES AT 25*C. METHOD OF SHAVING WHICH COMPRISES WETTING THE PORTION OF THE SKIN TO BE SHAVED, APPLYING A LIQUID SHAVING COMPOSITION OF THIS INVENTION ONTO THE CUTTING EDGE OF A RAZOR TO PROVIDE A THIN LAYER THEREON, AND ADVANCING THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE RAZOR OVER THE DAMPENED SURFACE OF THE SKIN TO SEVER THE HAIR FIBERS.

United States Patent 3,715,942 LIQUID SHAVING COMPOSITION AND METHOD OFSHAVING Donald L. Courtney, Wilmington, Del., asslgnor to ICI AmericaInc., Wilmington, Del. No Drawing. Filed May 31, 1968, Ser. No. 733,327

Int. Cl. A61k 7/14 US. or. 83-22 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURELiquid shaving compositions comprising liquid, nonionic surfactant andhaving an HLB from 1 to 9 and a viscosity from 0.1 to 50 stokes at 25 C.Method of shaving which comprises wetting the portion of the kin to beshaved, applying a liquid shaving compositionof this invention onto thecutting edge of a razor to provide a thin layer thereon, and advancingthe cutting edge of the razor over the dampened surface of the skin tosever the hair fibers.

This invention relates to new and improved methods of shaving and toshaving compositions for use with razor and blade in shaving face, legs,underarms, or other portions of the body from which it may be desirableto remove hair. I

The term HLB as used throughout the specification and appended claimsrepresents the hydrophile-lipophile balance of a surfactant asdetermined by the method set forth in the Journal of the Society ofCosmetic Chemists, vol. 1, pages 311-326 (1949).

It is an object of this invention to provide shaving compositions whichhave improved shaving properties. It is another object of this inventionto provide shaving compositions which have superior lubricatingproperties to minimize razor drag and the resultant irritation which canbe caused by this means. It is another object of this invention toprovide a shaving composition which will deposit a protective layer onthe area shaved to enhance the protective action of skin oils. It isanother object of this invention to provide a shaving composition whichacts to protect the razor blade between uses by providing a coatingthereon. It is another object of this invention to provide a shavingcomposition which may be applied directly to the edge of the cuttingblade. It is another object of this invention to provide shavingcompositions which give a close, comfortable, rapid, convenient shave.It is another object of this invention to provide an improved method ofshaving. These and other objects of the present invention areaccomplished by the shaving compositions and method of shaving therewithset forth in detail in the following description and appended claims.

The liquid shaving compositions of this invention comprise liquid,nonionic surfactant and have an HLB value from L to 9 and a viscosityfrom 0.1 to 50 stokes at 25 C- The liquid nonionic surfactant may be 1)any liquid, nonionic surfactant which has an HLB value from 1 to 9 and aviscosity from 0.1 to 50 stokes at 25 C. or (2) a mixture of one or moreliquid, nonionic surfactant with one or more other liquid, nonionicsurfactant wherein the particular surfactants and amounts of eachsurfactant are chosen so that the resulting mixture of surfactants hasan HLB value from 1 to 9 and a viscosity from 0.1 to 50 stokes at 25 C.When two or more surfactants are combined or blended, the HLB values areadditive in behavior. Thus, if four parts of a surfactant having an HLBvalue of is blended with 1 part of a surfactant having an HLB value of15, the resulting blend will have an HLB value of four-fifths of 5 plusone-fifth of 15, that is four plus three or 7.The amount of liquid,nonionic surfactant present in the shaving composition may vary from 40%to by weight.

Illustrative examples of nonionic surfactants which m y be used in theliquid shaving compositions of this invention include propylene glycolesters of fatty acids having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, for example,propylene glycol monooleate and propylene glycol monolaurate; esters ofhexitans and fatty acids having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, for example,sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan trioleate, andsorbitan sesquioleate; esters of glycerine and fatty acids having from12 to 24 carbon atoms, for example, glycerol monooleate, glycerol d1-oleate, and glycerol trioleate; polyoxyethylene ethers of partialhexitan esters of fatty acids having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, forexample,

polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene (4) sorbitanmonolaurate, polyoxyethylene(20)sorbitan monopalmitate, polyoxyethylene20) sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene(20) sorbitan monooleate,polyoxyethylene(5 sorbitan monooleate, and polyoxyethylene(20)sorbitantrioleate; polyoxyethylene ethers of fatty alcohols having from 12 to 24carbon atoms, for example, polyoxyethylene(4)lauryl ether,polyoxyethylene l0 oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene (2 oleyl ether,polyoxyethylene 12) tridecyl ether, polyoxyethylene (4 isohexadecylether, polyoxyethylene( 15 )isohexadecyl ether, andpolyoxyethylene(6)isohexadecyl ether;

polyoxyethylene esters of fatty acids having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms,for example, polyoxyethylene(2)1aurate and polyoxyethylene(8)laurate;and fatty acid esters of polyoxyethylene ethers of hexitols, forexample, polyoxyethylene (40)sorbitol septaoleate. The monoestersreferred to above also include the commercially available monoesterswhich may contain minor amounts of higher esters. For example, the termglycerol monooleate, as used throughout the specification and appendedclaims, includes the commercially available glycerol monooleates whichmay contain minor amounts of glycerol dioleate and minor amounts ofglycerol trioleate.

The preferred liquid nonionic surfactant is a mixture of a glycerol monoester of a fatty acid having from 10 to 24 carbon atoms and apolyoxyethylene ether of a partial sorbitan ester of fatty acid, saidether containing from 2 to 25 oxyethylene groups and said fatty acidhaving from 10 to 24 carbon atoms. Illustrative examples of fatty acidshaving from 10 to 24 carbon atoms include capric acid, lauric acid,lauroleic acid, myristic acid, myristoleic acid, pentadecanoic acid,palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, margaricacid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, ricinoleic acid, dihydroxystearicacid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, and lignoceric acid. The preferredglycerol mono ester is glycerol monooleate, and the preferredpolyoxyethylene ether is polyoxyethylene(20) sorbitan monolaurate.

While the only essential ingredient of the liquid shaving compositionsof this invention is liquid nonionic surfactant, the shavingcompositions of this invention may contain up to 15% by weight water andup to 25% by weight of an alcohol selected from the group consisting ofpropylene glycol, ethanol, and isopropanol. The water and alcoholimprove the shaving properties and lower the freezing point of theshaving compositions.

The shaving compositions of this invention may also contain variousadditaments such as hexachlorophene, menthol, perfumes, lanolin, mineraloil, colors, petrolaturn, carboxymethylcellulose, emulsifiers, vitamins,hexadecyl alcohol, isopropyl myristate, allantoin, and carboxy vinylpolymers. The amount of additarnents present in the shaving compositionwill depend upon the particular additaments used. For example,hexachlorophene and vitamins are employed in very small amounts, such asless than 1% by weight, whereas the amount of mineral oil used may be50% by Weight.

following examples of liquid shaving compositions are given. Theseexamples are set forth solely for the purpose of illustration and anyspecific enumeration of details contained therein should not beinterpreted as expressing limitations of this invention. All parts andpercentages are by weight, unless otherwise stated.

Ingredient Example number, percent HLB 1 Viscosity 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9Glycerol monooleate Sorbitan monolaurate. Sorbitan monooleate Sorbitantrioleate. Sorbitan sesquioleate Polyoxyethylene (2) oleyl ethePolyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate Spice perfume 2 Viscosity ofingredient at 25 C. in stokes.

Shaving tests were conducted on each of the foregoing shavingcompositions by each member of a ten man shaving panel. Each shave wasconducted by wetting the face with water, applying the shavingcomposition to the cutting edge of a razor, and advancing the cuttingedge of the razor over the dampened surface of the face. The shavingcomposition gave a close, comfortable, convenient, rapid shave.

Additional formulations of shaving compositions which give close,comfortable, convenient, rapid shaves are shown in Examples 10-16.

Example number, percent Vis- Ingredient HLB 1 cosity 2 10 11 12 13 14 1516 Glycerol monooleate 2. 8 73. 9 90 60 62. 2 3S. 9 Sorbitanmonolaurate. 8. 6 Sorbitan monooleate. 4. 3 19 Sorbitan trioleate 1. 82. 7 Polyoxyethylene(2)oleyl ether 4. 9 0, 3 Polyoxyethylene (20)sorbitol monolaurate. l6. 7 3, 3 Polyoxyethylene(20) sorbitolmonopalmitate 15. 6 5. O Polyoxyethylene(20)sc rbitol monostearate. 14.9 5. 5 Polyoxyethylene(2(Dscrbitol monooleate. 15. 0 4. 2Polyoxyethylene (8) laurate 12. 8 0.8 Po1yoxyethylene(4)lauryl ether- 9.7 I 0. 3 Polyoxyethylene(l0)oleyl ether--. 12. 4

Mineral oil l HLB of ingredient. 2 Viscosity of ingredient at assistingcompositions of this invention, there may be mentioned thosecompositions which comprise a mixture of the following ingredients inthe following amounts:

(a') 60% to 90% by weight of a glycerol mono ester of a fatty acidhaving from 10 to 24 carbon atoms;

(a") 20% to 2% by weight of a polyoxyethylene ether of an ester ofsorbitan and fatty acid, said ether containing from 2 to 25 oxyethylenegroups and said fatty acid containing from 10 to 24 carbon atoms;

(b) 2% to 25 by weight of an alcohol selected from the group consistingof propylene glycol, ethanol, and isopropanol; and

(0) 1% to 15% by weight of water.

A still more preferred group of liquid shaving assisting compositions ofthis invention is those which comprise:

(a') 76% to 80% by weight of glycerol monooleate;

(a") 6% to 9% by weight of polyoxyethylene(20)sorbitan monolaurate;

(b) 8% to 11% by weight of propylene glycol; and

(c) 5% to 8% by weight of water.

The liquid shaving assisting compositions of this invention may beprepared in any desired manner such as by merely mixing the ingredientstogether and stirring to form a homogeneous mixture.

In order that those skilled in the art may better understand how thepresent invention may be practiced, the

C. in stokes.

The liquid shaving compositions of this invention may be used in thesame way as shaving compositions known prior to this invention. Forexample, the liquid shaving compositions of this invention may beapplied to the skin, alone or in conjunction with conventional shavingcompositions, by patting or rubbing on with the hand or fingers, or byrolling on with a mechanical roller, or by spraying on from apressurized container. It has been found, however, that a greatlyimproved shaving opera tion can be achieved by wetting the portion ofthe skin to be shaved with water, applying a liquid shaving assistingcomposition of this invention onto the cutting edge of a razor blade toprovide a thin layer thereon, and advancing the cutting edge of therazor blade over the dampened surface of the skin to sever the hairfibers. The preferred method of shaving comprises washing the face withsoap and water, removing the soap but leaving the face wet, applyingconventional shaving cream or lather to the face, applying a liquidshaving composition of this invention onto the cutting edge of a razorblade and onto the head of the razor to provide a thin layer thereon,and advancing the cutting edge of the razor blade over the face to severthe hair fibers.

Although this invention has been described with reference to specificchemical materials, it will be apparent that still other different andequivalent chemical materials may be substituted for those described,all within the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A liquid shaving assisting composition which has an HLB value from 1to 9 and a viscosity from 0.1 to 50 stokes at 25 C. and which comprisesa mixture of 60% to 97% by weight of liquid, nonionic surfactant havingan HLB value from 1 to 9 and a viscosity from 0.1 to 50 stokes at 25 C.;2% to 25% by weight of an alcohol selected from the group consisting ofpropylene glycol, ethanol, and isopropanol; and 1% to 15% by weight ofwater.

2. A liquid shaving assisting composition of cla'm 1 wherein saidnonionic surfactant is a blend of nonionic surfactants.

3. A liquid shaving assisting composition of claim 2 which comprises amixture of 90% to 60% by weight of a glycerol mono ester of a fatty acidhaving from to 24 carbon atoms and 20% to 2% by weight of apolyoxyethylene ether of a sorbitan fatty acid partial ester, said ethercontaining from 2 to 25 oxyethylene groups and said last mentioned fattyacid having from 10 to 24 carbon atoms.

4. A liquid shaving assisting composition of claim 3 which comprises amixture of 76% to 80% by weight of glycerol monooleate, 6% to 9% byweight of polyoxyethylene(20)sorbitan monolaurate, 8% to 11% by weightof propylene glycol, and 5% to 8% by weight of water.

5. A method of shaving which comprises wetting the portion of the skinto be shaved with water, applying liquid nonionic surfactant having anHLB value from 1 to 9 and a viscosity from 0.1 to 50 stokes at 25 C.onto the cutting edge of a razor to provide a thin layer thereon, andadvancing the cutting edge of the razor over the dampened surface of theskin to sever the hair fibers.

6. A method of shaving which comprises wetting the portion of the skinto be shaved with water, applying the liquid shaving assistingcomposition of claim 1 onto the cutting edge of a razor to provide athin layer thereon, and advancing the cutting edge of the razor over thedampened surface of the skin to sever the hair fibers.

7. A method of shaving which comprises wetting the portion of the skinto be shaved with Water, applying the liquid shaving assistingcomposition of claim 2 onto the cutting edge of a razor to provide athin layer thereon, and advancing the cutting edge of the razor over thedampened surface of the skin to sever the hair fibers.

8. A method of shaving which comprises wetting the portion of the skinto be shaved with water, applying the liquid shaving assistingcomposition of claim 3 onto the cutting edge of a razor to provide athin layer thereon, and advancing the cutting edge of the razor over thedampened surface of the skin to sever the hair fibers.

9. A method of shaving which comprises wetting the portion of the skinto be shaved with water, applying the liquid shaving assistingcomposition of claim 4 onto the cutting edge of a razor to provide athin layer thereon, and advancing the cutting edge of the razor over thedampened surface of the skin to sever the hair fibers.

10. A method of shaving which comprises washing the face with soap andwater, removing the soap but leaving the face wet, applying shavinglather to the face, applying liquid nonionic surfactant having an HLBvalue from 1 to 9 and a viscosity from 0.1 to stokes at 25 C. onto thecutting edge of a razor to provide a thin layer thereon, and advancingthe cutting edge of the razor over the face to sever the hair fibers.

11. A liquid shaving assisting composition of claim 1 wherein saidnon-ionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of propyleneglycol esters of fatty acids having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, estersof hexitans and fatty acids having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, esters ofglycerine and fatty acids having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms,polyoxyethylene ethers of partial esters of hexitan and fatty acidshaving from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, polyoxyethylene ethers of fattyalcohols having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, polyoxyethylene esters offatty acids having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, fatty acid esters ofpolyoxyethylene ethers of hexitols, and mixtures thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,292,417 8/1942 Wetherbee 424733,136,696 6/1964 Harrison 42473 3,488,287 1/1970 Seglin et a1. 42473OTHER REFERENCES Schwartz et a1. (Surface-Active Agents, vol. I,Interscience Pub., Inc., NY.) 1949, p. 229 and 517.

ALBERT T. MEYERS, Primary Examiner F. E. WADDELL, Assistant ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R. 42473

